Malaria is a huge problem worldwide, so it's no surprise to anyone that plenty of people spend lots of time trying to think of ways to rid the world of mosquitoes, prime movers of the disease. Nathan Myhrvold's company Intellectual Ventures Labs (and former chief technology officer at Microsoft) is focusing on just that. Using widely available and common electronics parts, Intellectual Ventures has made lasers which can kill mosquitoes mid-flight -- at a rate of about 50 to 100 per second. Myhrvold first publicly demonstrated this laser (which is made of parts of printers, digital cameras, and projectors) at the TED conference the other day, using hundreds of mosquitoes in a clear glass case to make his point. The laser's software determines the size and shape of the target before deciding whether or not to shoot, so, for instance -- it wouldn't take aim at a person or a bumblebee. The lasers could be used to protect hospitals and clinics in areas with high mosquito populations and in areas with a high rate of malaria infestation. Now, this is surprisingly
not the
first time we've seen such a trick -- though it is the first time we've seen video evidence of it working. There are some insanely informative (and murderous) videos at the source link. Be sure to check them out.
Update: Video is after the break.
posted February 14th 2010 9:02AM
I want one of these things for my summer backyard barbecues!
So many lasers coming out of the production line eh? A few days ago it was the aircraft with a laser gun that kills missiles, and now we have a lasers that kills swaths of mosquitoes. Perhaps an aircraft with a laser that can destroy mosquitoes throughout an several hundred hectares in a single pass is in order? Those near the equator need it. Oh yeah, and Africans in Africa.
PEW PEW PEW!
The fight against Malaria just became a tower defense game.
TED is awesome....so inspirational
are TED fanboys allowed on engadget?
@chnwa3 absolutely! T.E.D. is what engadget would be if it were run by smart people.
@chnwa3 Agreed, TED rules! And sweet greggo - careful, they're watching!
I hate insects.. Especially the really buggy ones!! :-)
I dig it, but question: wouldn't wiping out hundreds of thousands/millions of insects potentially disrupt the food chain or some other aspect of ecology? Just askin.
@Bandigolo
I was soo just about to ask the same thing.
@Bandigolo
It does look like they are not completely incinerated - just a bit BBQ'd so I figure they could still be eaten. (Except maybe they would all be eaten at once). Anyway maybe someone will develop a scanner that will scan them to see if they are carrying (disease) before frying them.
Bill Gates is not amused...
Yes! The canceled Boeing laser project can be saved!
I expect to see this on infomercials for $19.95
Or maybe someone will write an app for that? iZAP. Turn your iPhone into a mosquito death ray.
sup with former microsoft execs, mosquitos, and TED?
So some definite questions remain: effective range and power consumption. As in if we could package this into a briefcase with solar panels on the side major, major benefits could be reaped.
Now show it hitting one that is full of blood. Ewwwwwwwww
They need to leave the male mosquito alone, its the FEMALE that harass people.
This is a great idea for areas where people don't frequent.
However, even though the device "won't target humans, etc.", that doesn't mean that it won't shoot at a bug "in line" with a human.
I can just see the mass lawsuits because people are being blinded by these things. If it has the power to burn the bugs at say 30', imagine what it'll do to eyes at 100'.
did I miss the part where it mentioned the range? Any chance we could get one of these orbiting the earth, and rid us of these bloodsuckers once and for all? :)
Drop your proboscis. You have ten seconds to comply.
Now everyone's back yard will be like a rave. I can see it now;
Little blue explosions popping out of nowhere all over the yard in the summer, GloBugs will get confused and run straight for the mosquitoes killing both species in record time. Ahhh Ronald Reagan would be proud...Until a super mutant laser resistant strain of the species arrives on the scene. You know it will happen and then the real Star er sky wars will begin. Mosquitoes with Frickin lasers on 'Their' Heads....oh wait this is what this is.... I wonder when the production of nano sized laser goggles will go on sale?
Kind of a shame that it took them a year to finally kill off those mosquitoes that Bill Gates released last year. Oh well...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ki4JKy4XkC4
The Human and Mosquito wars have begun. FOR FREEDOM!!! phew! phew! phew!
Just hope he'll keep an eye out for Mosquitoe-spies, sapping his sentry.
That is so awesome!
You know what's going to happen here. This will cause all of the regular little mosquitoes to die off, while those with mutations that make them bigger survive. Eventually, all we'll be left with will be giant mutant mosquitoes the size of a person. Is that what you want??
What - no Austin Powers quotes? You lot disappoint me! :)
"Shoot the wings off the mosquitoes"
I have a cheaper method. Get some local kids to build some damn bat houses.
Some, like the Little Brown bat can eat up to 1000 mosquitoes an hour EACH.
I will pay!!! I don't care how much... I need this, I want it, oh baby, oh baby... But on a more serious note.....
I will pay!!! I don't care how much... I need this, I want it, oh baby, oh baby...